Quickly approaching the halfway point of the 2009-10 NHL season and the main problem for the Pittsburgh Penguins remains. That problem is an anemic power play.

Ok, since Malkin moved to the left point a few games back there have been signs of a pulse for a unit ranked dead last in the NHL despite having more talent than most teams have on their entire roster. Last night against New Jersey however the Penguins power play was once again a liability going 0-5 and giving teams no reason to fear the unit and not take penalties.

Scoring on just one or two of those man advantages might have turned what ultimately was an embarrassing blowout into an actual contest. But no. Instead Penguins fans were once again left to watch Malkin, Crosby and Gonchar struggle for no apparent reason.

This is getting ridiculous and something serious needs to be done soon. Otherwise, mark my words, the Penguins will end up loosing a round in the play offs if their power play is not corrected.

I think moving Malkin to the point is a good change. But I still think a better change is getting Sid and Geno on separate units altogether. Because as bad as the first unit has been with them both on it, the second unit has been even worse and even less of a threat to opponents.

Petr Sykora, as good as he can be, is just not getting the job done. He is not finishing and not getting time on the power play which is where many of his goals come from.

Is he hurt? He and the team are mum. But he is playing like a man protecting himself. He is playing hard at times but something is off and not right.

Miroslav Satan, who was the odd man out back at the trade deadline, sits as a healthy scratch. It is time to give him a shot to play. Maybe not on Malkin’s line, but somewhere and give Sykora a chance to either rest his unannounced injury or think about what he needs to do to be worthy of playing on a team so stacked with talent that no player’s role should be safe if they slack.

Satan didn’t deserve to be sent to the minors. He was playing well. But he had to go to clear cap room. It is time to reward him for taking it like a pro and get his shot back in the lineup.

I was certainly impressed with the Penguins 5 goal explosion in the third period against the Rangers on Wednesday. But I temper than feeling with knowing that I sat though a horrific second period watching Fleury keep his team in the game; a game they should have rightfully been loosing by two or more goals when the third period started.

As it stands today, the Penguins are 24-21-4 (52 pts) in the East with 49 games down and 33 games to go. If they want to make the playoffs they are going to need to get to at least 90 points and even that would be cutting it close. In all honesty, this team needs about 21 (42 pts) more wins to not just make the playoffs, but be in a respectable position heading into the playoffs and be considered a contender to return to the Stanley Cup Finals. That means winning 64% of their remaining games or getting enough points through ties, wins and OT losses to make 42 pts happen.

Can they do it? Well, in their last six they are clicking at 67% when it comes to winning and they certainly have some cream puffs on their schedule between now and the end of the season. But beating up on teams like Tampa Bay, the New York Islanders, the Maple Leafs and even the Los Angeles Kings isn’t going to be enough. They need to not only get the points, but do so beating the Devils, the Candiens and the Bostons of the league too.

This team has the talent. But they have to use it. Tonight they have to use it against divisional foes, the New Jersey Devils.